Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist-Tree & Landscape Plant Health Specialist

Job Title

Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist-Tree & Landscape Plant Health Specialist

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Tree and Landscape Plant Health

Position description 75% Extension / 25% Teaching

Non-tenure track appointment, 12-month

Extension Responsibilities

• Focuses on urban forestry and landscape plant health issues in urban environments.

• Provides plant-health management support to stakeholders including, but not limited to arborists, landscape maintenance operations, nursery growers, county Extension agents, and other AgriLife personnel primarily in the urban centers/regions.

• Provides plant-health management educational and research support to AgriLife personnel and clientele in the urban center/regions.

• Responds actively to emerging evidence of plant-disease infestations.

• Secures funding through contracts, grants, internal programs, cost-recovery initiatives, fee-for-service activities, and other external funds to sustain and grow vibrant Extension programs.

• Documents and reports accomplishments through performance measures that include, but are not limited to, Extension outputs (factsheets, newsletters, bulletins, electronic creations), program-evaluation surveys, effective and in-demand extension educational programs (workshops, short courses). [requirement to use TAMED reporting]

• Coordinates closely with colleagues (AgriLife and TFS personnel) to ensure efficient translation of research findings into practical solutions, and appropriate extension of educational programs for appropriate clientele.

• Contributes to appropriate professional societies and the PLPM Department through service on ad hoc and/or standing committees.

Teaching Responsibilities

• Develop undergraduate or graduate courses in their area of expertise, such as, but not limited to, plant pathology, forest pathology, plant disease management and/or plant disease diagnostics.

• Instructing existing core courses, or newly designed courses. Expectation will be 2 courses taught per year.

• Serve on graduate committees and service to the department, university, and the profession. 

• Mentors undergraduate and graduate students in the PLPM Department and other institutions, as appropriate.

General Responsibilities and Duties

Roles and responsibilities of Assistant Professors and Extension Specialists are typically as follows, but can vary depending on the department and expectations of the Associate Department Head, Department Head/Unit Leader and/or Agency leadership:

Responsibilities:

People

• Collect and synthesize information from county, regional, and statewide program development committees, clientele needs assessments, trend data, clientele organizations, and key industry leaders to guide the content, quality, and priority of programming
• Support agents with programming and content related to the subject matter expertise through program planning meetings, individual consultation, site visits with clientele, speaking at educational programs, and in other educational roles
• Coordinate with RPLs and appropriate agents programming efforts, result/demonstrations, and other activities when performed in counties
• Provide professional development opportunities and trainings and mentor and coach agents as requested by Regional Program Leaders (RPLs), District Extension Administrators (DEAs), and Associate Department Heads (ADHs) in subject matter, issues identification, and program planning areas
• Work with Agents and Agency leadership to develop and implement volunteer training activities.

Programs

• Understands the type of programmatic approaches needed to meet the needs and capabilities of different audiences for effective program planning and implementation.
• Develop and participate in disciplinary and interdisciplinary programming efforts as appropriate to adequately address the priority issues facing our stakeholders
• Work to effectively coordinate and integrate programs and, as appropriate, contribute to an Extension Coordinated Program Area
• Develop and implement evaluation strategies to assess outcomes from Extension educational programs and demonstrate evidence of program impacts (i.e., knowledge gain, behavior change, adoption of new technologies and best practices, economic impact) as measured by well-designed program evaluations
• Participate in program planning at the multi-county or regional level and convey insights to their ADH or unit leader as appropriate

Partnerships

• Provide timely and effective coordination, cooperation, and scheduling of activities with colleagues and personnel within Extension and across AgriLife, including but not limited to District Extension Administrators, Regional Program Leaders, Associate Department Heads/Program Leaders, other departmental or unit faculty/staff, County Extension Agents/staff, and AgriLife Research and College personnel.
• Engage with external groups including state and federal government agencies and stakeholder organizations and other entities to better understand issues and potential partner in addressing stakeholder needs.
• Seek grants, contacts, and other revenue sources to advance and sustain programmatic efforts in the subject area
• Member of professional organizations and societies
• Demonstrate collegiality by serving on departmental/unit, Extension and AgriLife committees, and demonstrating a track record of building effective working relationships across departments, agencies, and/or colleges

Scholarly Efforts

• Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative educational programs resources and materials (e.g., fact sheets, instruction manuals, educational videos, online courses, computer software programs, apps, etc.)
• Conduct applied or translational research that is in line with the Extension programming effort
• Publish creative and scholarly work in refereed journals appropriate to the faculty member’s subject matter area, and present research findings at relevant industry meetings, professional meetings, or conferences
• Support academic pursuits in the subject matter area through activities such as guest lectures, undergraduate student mentorship, student club activities, student competitive team activities, graduate student mentorship, and serving on graduate student committees.

Required Education and Experience:

• PhD in Plant Pathology or related discipline, including but not limited to biology, ecology, entomology, microbiology, horticulture, etc.
• Evidence of the potential for developing and outstanding extension program and indications of strong mentorship and teaching skills are required.

Preferred Experience

• Published research results in refereed journals.
• A good understanding of extension and research in land-grant institution in the US.
• Previous experience in trees and/or woody ornamental plant health areas.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Experience in area of specialization, ability to write grant proposals to secure external funding; development and implementation of extension programming; evidence of publishing in peer-reviewed journals; and participation in professional societies.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the English language. 
• Competence in the use of personal computers; navigating communications, team collaboration, word processing and spreadsheet software; and using appropriate statistical-analysis software.
• Ability to multi task and work cooperatively with others,

For More Detailed Information:

Review the most recent edition of the Professorial Career Ladder System for Extension Specialist Faculty for more detailed information.

Reporting Line:

Extension Specialists and Program Specialists, depending on their home unit, report to an Associate Department Head and respective Department Head or Unit Leader. As applicable Regional Program Leaders and Program Area Coordinators will provide input in the specialist’s annual review.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.